Pope Francis Remembered As Gaza’s Spiritual Father \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Pope Francis spent the last 18 months of his life calling Gaza’s only Catholic church, offering support to its Christian community during the war. His death was met with deep mourning from Palestinians who viewed him as a beacon of hope. The pope’s consistent calls for peace, justice, and aid made him a beloved figure across Gaza and beyond.
Quick Looks
- Pope Francis called daily to Gaza’s Holy Family Church.
- He was mourned as a spiritual father to Gaza’s Christians.
- Advocated for a ceasefire, hostage release, and humanitarian aid.
- Condemned antisemitism and acts of war against civilians.
- Repeatedly highlighted Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe.
- Described Israeli military actions as marked by “cruelty.”
- Gazans praised his compassion and presence, even from afar.
- Pope’s death evoked emotional tributes from Christians and Muslims alike.
Deep Look
In the final 18 months of his life, Pope Francis made a quiet but powerful habit of compassion. Each evening around 7 p.m., he would call the only Catholic church in Gaza—the Holy Family Church—to check on the nearly 600 people sheltering inside amid one of the deadliest conflicts the region has ever seen.
His daily calls weren’t just gestures; they were lifelines for a desperate community. Gaza’s Christians, numbering fewer than 1,000 people in the overwhelmingly Muslim territory, viewed the Pope not merely as a global religious figure—but as their own spiritual father, an advocate who refused to forget them in their darkest hours.
When news broke of Francis’ death on Monday, grief poured from the Christian minority in Gaza. “He was our biggest supporter after God,” said Suheil Abu Dawoud, a 19-year-old Christian resident. “He always healed our wounds and asked us to be strong. He was always praying for us.”
Francis used his platform to push for peace and humanitarian relief throughout the war between Israel and Hamas, which erupted on October 7, 2023. On that day, Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and taking 251 hostages. Since then, over 51,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, have died in Israeli military responses, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Pope never stopped drawing attention to the human toll.
In his final public address, Pope Francis made an urgent plea: “Call on a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of starving people that aspires to a future of peace!” He also condemned the dramatic humanitarian breakdown, noting that Gaza’s population of 2.3 million was now largely homeless and facing hunger, with many surviving on one meal per day.
Despite his consistent calls for peace, his words often went unheeded. On the same day he passed, Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least 14 more people in Gaza. Yet Francis’ voice stood out amid global silence.
A Complicated Legacy in Israel
In Israel, Francis was both respected and criticized. He made notable efforts to build bridges with the Jewish community and strongly condemned antisemitism. He even met with the families of hostages taken by Hamas. Israeli President Isaac Herzog described him as a man of “deep faith and boundless compassion,” hoping his prayers for peace would one day be fulfilled.
But Francis also publicly criticized Israel’s military actions, urging investigations into what he implied could be war crimes or even genocide—charges that Israel firmly denies. In December, he spoke of his anguish over the “machine-gunning of children” and the bombing of hospitals and schools, decrying the conflict’s “cruelty.”
The Pope’s increasingly strong language drew global attention to what he described as “a very serious and shameful” humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Loved Across the Arab World
Tributes to Francis poured in from across the Arab world. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), praised him for being a consistent moral voice “drawing attention to the significant dehumanization of the war in Gaza & beyond.”
Even Hamas, which has clashed ideologically with the Vatican in the past, issued a rare statement of respect. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim called Francis “a steadfast advocate for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people” and highlighted his opposition to what they described as genocide.
A Lifeline to Gaza’s Christians
Only around 1,000 Christians remain in Gaza today, and most are Greek Orthodox. However, the Holy Family Catholic Church serves as a sanctuary for Christians of all denominations during times of crisis. Francis’ calls were a symbol of solidarity from afar. “The other day, they were happy because they managed to eat some meat,” he told CBS’s 60 Minutes. “The rest of the time, they eat flour. Sometimes they go hungry.”
The Rev. Gabriele Romanelli confirmed that the Pope’s last call to Gaza came just two days before his death. “He was with us step by step and day by day,” said George Antoun, a local church official. “He left a big inheritance in Gaza. He is the saint of Gaza.”
Suhair Anastas, a Greek Orthodox woman who once sheltered at the church and met the Pope in 2023, shared mixed feelings. “He stood by us,” she said. “But I wish he could have done more.”
For many in Gaza and beyond, the death of Pope Francis marks the end of a deeply personal chapter—one in which a distant leader offered more than prayers; he offered presence. His death leaves a void in a region still longing for peace, justice, and recognition.
Pope Francis Remembered Pope Francis Remembered
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